Best Historical Monument: Presidio La Bahia

Housing one of the oldest churches in the United States, Presidio La Bahia offers a strong taste of Texas history.

Perhaps it's the strong taste that made Advocate readers vote it the best monument in the Crossroads.

"Texas has the most exciting history of any state and that is what they come here to see," said director Newton Warzecha.

In fact, the first Texas Declaration of Independence from Mexico was signed in the Our Lady of Loreto chapel, which still celebrates Mass at 5 p.m. Sunday.

Beyond the church, the monument hosts a museum and a Spanish frontier fort where 4,000-5,000 visitors attend the annual major living history program. The program recreates the Goliad Massacre with several hundred people re-enacting the historical events.